Measuring connections: Analysis of diffusion MRI
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1
Stanford University, United States
A crucial component of neural development is the establishment of long-rage connections in the white matter of the brain. The development of these connections is orchestrated by the genome and refined by experience. In humans, these connections continue to develop through adolescence. Until recently, measuring long-range connections in white matter was limited to invasive or postmortem methods. Now, various macroscopic and microscopic properties of the white matter can be measured in-vivo with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dwMRI). These non-invasive measurement tools are used to track the development of the long-range white matter connections in fetuses in-utero, babies, children, as well as adults. In this workshop, I will review the basic technology behind dwMRI and provide an overview of the analysis methods typically used to analyze dwMRI data. I will illustrate several state of the art analysis methods with recent results from our lab on reading development, the effects of radiation therapy on the developing brain, and the normal growth of specific white matter pathways in a longitudinal study of children aged seven to 15. The workshop will also touch on other quantitative MRI measurements that compliment dwMRI in characterizing white matter development, such as magnetization transfer and relaxometry. By combining multiple measurement techniques, analysis methods, and quantitative modeling, we hope to better understand the tight coupling between white matter structure and cognitive performance.
Conference:
Conference on Neurocognitive Development, Berkeley, CA, United States, 12 Jul - 14 Jul, 2009.
Presentation Type:
Oral Presentation
Topic:
Methods workshop
Citation:
Dougherty
B
(2009). Measuring connections: Analysis of diffusion MRI.
Conference Abstract:
Conference on Neurocognitive Development.
doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.09.2009.10.010
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Received:
06 Jul 2009;
Published Online:
06 Jul 2009.
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Correspondence:
Bob Dougherty, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States, bobd@stanford.edu